BIRTH OF A REVOLUTIONARY
The Birth of a Revolutionary
That Jesus was a rebel is the most important thing to
remember about his birth celebrated on December 25. He taught that the highest
good is healing the sick, feeding for the hungry, caring for the widows and
orphans and seeking justice for all. He stood for love and forgiveness. He was
not a political or military leader. He was not concerned about being popular or
famous. In fact he shrank from large crowds and sought anonymity. He thought
the end of the world was coming in his lifetime.
Good Pope Francis is a Christian leader who embodies Jesus’
message. But every Christian is called to assume those basic values. Sadly,
Christians have been more concerned for sexual purity, birth control,
abortions, isolating homosexuals and illegal immigrants. As a good Jew, Jesus
believed in radical hospitality to strangers and foreigners. Many Christian
today are more concerned about Santa and sleigh bells than justice for all.
I have been a priest of the Episcopal Church for fifty-seven
years. Much of my time was spent in raising money for buildings, grounds,
upkeep, stained glass windows, organs and salaries, including my own. Our
church has been a leader in justice for African-Americans, homosexuals, in ministries to those with HIV disease and,
sadly, ministering to the dying, their lovers and families. However, our church
has been beset by squabbles over women in the priesthood, same gender marriage,
war and peace.
I now find that all my interest in Biblical literature, dogmas
like salvation, incarnation, virgin birth, the trinity, resurrection, and and
ascension of Jesus, falls far back in my mind, replaced by Jesus’ message: healing,
feeding the hungry, seeking justice is what we should do.
I was delighted to read that the clergy of the Byzantine
Orthodox Church are active in the protests against the government in the
Ukraine. One seldom sees clergy of any church protesting the opposition to the
Affordable Health Care Act. Since Jesus was a healer, can’t Christian clergy and
lay people understand the legislation as healing for more and more human
beings? I participate in a weekly Vigil for peace and Justice in front of the Federal
Building at Golden gate Avenues and Larkin Streets in San Francisco. Quackers
stared that vigil twelve years ago. Passion for justice and peace comes
directly from the message of Jesus.
The atrocities committed by Christians in pogroms, the
inquisition and racial and ethnic discrimination come from the church corrupted
by government. When the church was recognized by the Roman government and
authorities thereafter, the basic message of Jesus was lost. The church sadly
reflected the values of government rather than the simple message of Jesus.
However, Christian church groups feed the hungry, found
hospitals, teach from nursery through graduate school, and care for the poor in
many countries around the world. Christian churches meet regularly for worship,
community and out to others. We Christians give thanksgiving gifts in memory of
the birth of Jesus the revolutionary.
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